Dinings

Dinings is one of London’s quietly iconic Japanese restaurants, a benchmark for contemporary Japanese dining that has shaped the city’s palate since its opening in 2006. Founded by chefs Tomonari Chiba and Keiji Fuku, the restaurant was among the first to blend precise Japanese technique with subtle European influence, setting a style that continues to resonate across the capital.

The cooking is defined by clarity and contrast: bright citrus against clean umami, delicate textures lifted by a flicker of heat, and the occasional flourish of luxury, as seen in truffle meeting ponzu in a single, shimmering bite. Every dish feels carefully considered, elegant without ever being showy.

The journey often begins with the simple pleasure of chilled edamame and deepens into cold tapas where seabass carpaccio arrives laced with Umbrian truffle and ponzu jelly, and yellowtail is lifted by a jalapeño dressing. There is playful precision in the tar-tar chips: toro crowned with jalapeño mayonnaise or salmon with chilli miso, each crisp bite a study in balance.

From the hot kitchen, grilled black cod glazed with chilli garlic marinade shows quiet decadence, while nasu miso aubergine, double cooked with den miso, offers soothing depth. Sushi and sashimi keep things classic yet considered, from silky maguro to indulgent lobster tempura open rolls, alongside nostalgic comforts like eel and tamago. Hand rolls such as toro taku and spicy tuna invite grazing and sharing at an easy pace.

Cocktails, including the Umeshu Highball Spritzer and the Dinings New-Fashioned, sit alongside a thoughtful sake list and a calming tea selection. Polished yet relaxed, Dinings remains a reference point for Japanese dining in London, a place where precision, creativity and hospitality come together with effortless grace.